Autrickshaws in Bangalore

When I moved from Bombay to Bangalore a few years ago, I found the the auto rickshaw scene appalling. Now it is worse. As a frequent user of auto rickshaws in Bangalore, I have had my share of bad experiences. Yesterday was an exception, when I flagged down one at the busy junction of Queen's Road and Cunningham Road.

The vehicle looked tidier than the average. The middle-aged driver was unusually polite. In addition to the ubiquitous picture of his favourite deity up front, there was a green board on the side, prominently displaying the words "Peace Auto" both in English and Kannada. I asked the driver what it was. He proudly said that he was a member of Peace Auto. I was intrigued. He was as eager to explain as I was to listen.

It is an organisation that promotes good relations between auto drivers and passengers, through peaceful means and high quality of service.

In 2013, Anil Shetty, a young man decided to do something more than complain about the problems that beset auto rickshaw services in Bangalore. The Peace Auto initiative was launched, in association with B.PAC and - rather grandiosely named - the World Peacekeepers Movement. Today  400 auto rickshaws in the city carry the green boards which announce their affiliation with this initiative. The organisation has clear goals that will benefit both passengers and drivers: such as law-abiding, courteous service to passengers and support for drivers' welfare.

If you happen to travel in one of the Peace Autos, don't fail to give your feedback on their website. I did.

Bali

A few months ago, I was in Bali, an exotic island in Indonesia. It is a place steeped in history and mystery.

First a little history and geography. The Indonesian archipelago lies on the Sunda Shelf in South East Asia. The biggest land masses in this region are Java, Sumatra and Borneo. The island of Bali is shaped like a little fish, lying in the ocean next to Java. More than a thousand years ago, Indians sailed across to settle in the numerous islands in the archipelago. There were kingdoms with names like Kalingga and Srivijaya. Several centuries later, the spread of Islam pervaded the archipelago. Later the Portuguese and Dutch colonisers appeared, as did the British in India.

The Dutch had annexed Bali in the 19th century. Independence came in 1950 after long and bitter strife.



Today Bali  is part of Indonesia, a predominantly Muslim country. However, Bali alone retains a strong imprint of ancient Hindu and Buddhist influences. How and why - that is a mystery!

Three Apsaras in Bali

Above all, Bali is beautiful. It is a popular tourist destination. These pretty girls were with me last year in Bali, where I too went as a tourist.

Birds of Paradise

God's Winged Jewels. That's what someone called them. Recently I watched and marvelled at these beautiful birds of paradise with extraordinary plumage, in their natural habitat in the forests of New Guinea.

Getting to Mars

The real thing is better than sci fi.

Space exploration is an expensive, high-tech adventure. But adventure nevertheless. In this exciting video, NASA shares the crucial seven minutes before Curiosity lands on the hot surface of Mars.

End of a Journey

The plane landed in Bangalore, at 1.15 am, bringing my holiday in the US to an end. As the taxi sped along the quiet roads, familiar landmarks and smells reminded me that I was home. A warm shower, a refreshing bottle of water and I was ready for bed. The rest of the day passed in a jet-lagged haze. In the night I slept fitfully,  dreaming that I heard amaya's cries and her favourite songs on the boom box. I watched Zoya running towards her classroom at school.  Memories of the last 10 weeks are beginning to settle down!

That was yesterday. This morning I woke up at 4 am. By 6.30 I was on my morning walk, which ended, as usual, at the little chapel of the Cloistered Carmelite nuns. I'm back to my normal daily routine!

Gift Shop at the South Pole

Amundsen, 1911

It is exactly 100 years since Roald Amundsen reached the South Pole, the last terrestrial frontier. In this race across the desolate icy terrain in 1911,  he had beaten Robert Scott by just a few days. Tragically, Scott died during his return trek from Antarctica.

Fourteen million square miles of ice covers the entire continent. There's a lot more to know about the Antarctic Ice Sheet.  Go to this link if you are interested in the connection between the Antarctic and global warming.

The coldest temperature on earth -128.6°F (-89.2°C)  was recorded on this remote, permanently frozen continent. For more than 50 years the US and other countries  are maintaining  permanent stations around the South Pole. They comprise teams of scientists as well as a support staff of cooks, cargo handlers and construction crews.

To commemorate the centenary, about 300 visitors are expected at the South Pole over the course of the short Summer season of December and January, when temperatures hover around - 30 Fahrenheit. Some will ski from the continent’s edge while others will fly in, probably from New Zealand.

Learn more from the Gift Shop at the South Pole.

The CoolAntarctica Gallery has a fine collection of pictures like the one above.

Planes of the World

How Did We Learn to Fly Like the Birds?

On a cold and windy day in December 1903, near a place called Kitty Hawk in Northern Carolina, USA, the Wright brothers made the first successful experiment in which a machine carrying a man actually flew. The machine rose by its own power, flew naturally, at even speed, and descended. This is considered as the first powered, controlled flight. But it was, by no means, the first attempt by men to fly like birds in the air.

Ancient Chinese kites are an indication of men's attempts to experiment with flying objects.   Leonardo da Vinci made several  designs of  flying machines with wings and tails. The drawing on the left is one such, called the ornithopter. Although never built, they  illustrated the concept of modern helicopters.

As the years passed, inventors built hot air balloons, airships and gliders in which people were borne aloft.  The sites Early Flying Machines and the History of Flight  describe the chronology of inventions and experiments in aviation.

A Woman Aviator
Among the many famous aviators, Amelia Earhart stands out as the only woman who set world records. She was also the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic in 1928, a year after Charles Lindbergh.

Modern Airplanes
Immediately after planes were invented, they began to be used for warfare in Europe. Between the First and second World Wars, there were rapid advances in aviation. Click here  to see how the Indian Air Force has grown and made major strides since Independence.

Freight-carrying Fedex plane

Commercial airlines began to operate from the beginning of the 20th century. KLM, founded in 1919, is the oldest airline still in existence!

There are different types of aircraft to fly people, luggage, cargo, military personnel and weapons.

Today  every new generation of aircrafts flies faster and higher. Planes  are getting bigger and more sophisticated.



More Video Links

• Go here if you want to show the kids the basic parts of a modern airplane. 
• Kids love this post showing planes landing and taking off. 
• Heard of Knuffingen, the world's largest model airport? Covering 150 square metres, this phenomenally realistic miniature live airport is part of the Wunderland built by the enterprising Braun brothers in Hamburg, Germany. 
• Ever wondered about the enormous planes that fly nowadays? See the biggest planes in the world. 
• Take a look at the amazing Heathrow Airport in London, the busiest hub for international flights.

The Indian Air Force

Next year, the Indian Air Force (IAF) will celebrate its eightieth anniversary. Which triggered this post. You might enjoy watching this seven-minute clip.

1932 to Now

The IAF was officially established in 1932 with four biplanes, six officers trained by the RAF and a few sepoys.  In 1950 when India became a republic, the IAF possessed six fighter squadrons with Spitfires, Vampires and Tempests operating from Kanpur, Poona, Ambala and Palam. It also had a B-24 bomber squadron and a C-47 Dakota transport squadron.

In 1954, when Nehru was prime minister, the IAF - also called Bharatiya Vayu Sena - received the President’s colours in New Delhi. About 1,500 officers and airmen took part in the grand parade with a hundred aircraft of various types, including Jet Vampires and Ouragans (Toofanis).

In the sixties, the Soviet Union became the main supplier of military equipment to India. Obsolescent equipment was replaced with increasing numbers of  HF-24s, MiG-21FLs and SU-7BMs. The IAF acquired the latest MIG and Sukhoi aircrafts from the Soviet Union and Mirages from France. In the seventies, the IAF had a strength of 70,000 personnel and 45 squadrons. In the mid-eighties, the IAF obtained the Anglo-French Jaguar strike fighters as well as a Maritime Jaguar carrying Sea Eagle missiles. The next important acquisition was the French Mirage 2000.

The above is a sketchy outline.  Click here to see some impressive pictures of the fighter planes of the Indian Air Force.

IAF In Action
The IAF has employed its defensive and offensive fighting capabilities to good effect in a number of actions over the years. The last major conflict where the IAF was called upon to display its prowess in active combat was the Kargil war in 1998.

During natural calamities - cyclones, earthquakes and floods - the IAF carries out missions to augment civil air power for relief operations. It rendered invaluable services during the Gujarat cyclone in 1998 and the massive earthquakes in Latur and Gujarat. The peacetime air efforts of the IAF to assist the civil administration in the aftermath of the Tsunami of 2004 are particularly noteworthy.

Plane Fascination

Little boys (and some little girls too) are fascinated with planes. My grandson is no exception. In fact, he is attracted to almost anything connected to a motor. The vacuum cleaner at home, the lawnmower in the garden, the weekly garbage truck, the delivery vans - they all get his fullest attention. Motorbikes and cars are his obsession. On the road, he keeps a sharp look-out for diggers (earth-movers) at construction sites, cop-cars on the move, boats on the  waterfront and planes flying overhead. Vardaan, the video clips below are specially for your viewing pleasure.

	...Take off
	... Rare planes
	... Landings
	... Low-altitude flying
	... Fly-past

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Auckland and Back, 2011

I brought in this New Year at Bangalore airport, awaiting my flight to Auckland. Thirteen days later, Inaya had made her entry into the world and into our lives. My days in Auckland were busy. Before I knew it, the months flew by. Returning at the end of May, I realise that nearly half the year's gone! One of these days I intend writing about it... stay tuned :)

A month rolled by and I did not add a single line. Of course I have my reasons (alright, excuses). I had been on another short holiday to enjoy Malnad in the monsoon. We had a lovely time. And there's another yarn to spin.

I came back to Bangalore and the pollution hit me - again. I caught a virus and was floored for a fortnight. Which brings me to August, but not a bit closer to writing about the time spent in Auckland. (The intention remains!)

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Sri Lanka, 2010

Recently I went to Sri Lanka on a week's vacation. Despite being a neighbouring country, I'd never been there before. The country has a tropical look like Southern India. At first glance, the people resemble Indians, but they are distinctly different in many ways.

Their cultural threads have strongly interwoven Buddhist and Hindu strands. Sri Lankan food is predominantly rice, fish, coconut and tropical vegetables. The curries and sambols are spicy and yummy. And the King Coconut is an excellent thirst-quencher.

The sea is all-pervasive. The country is, after all, a huge island! On our long drive along the western coast, signs of the devastation caused by the Tsunami were starkly visible. Kandy has a lot of historic sites. The lush vegetation in its hilly areas is breathtakingly beautiful. En route, we spent a few memorable hours in Pinnewala and the elephant sanctuary. Galle Road stretches a long way, with an old Dutch fort at one end. Colombo - not unlike the Bombay of a generation back - is a blend of old colonial and modern highrise structures.

Please click here for a peak into my Sri Lankan picture gallery.

USA, Summer of 2010

Three months with my family on the East Coast. Spending time under the same roof and participating in their lives. I got to see my newest grandchild Amaya as she said her first words and took her first steps! I got to share stories, take train rides and play with my eldest grandchild Zoya.

How does one sum up the wonderful times, the precious memories? I will try - promise!

Auckland in Winter 2009

This is my second visit to New Zealand. The first was a year ago, when I desperately needed some R & R. Thanks to Yasmin & Hari I returned to Bangalore refreshed, in July 2008.

Why would anyone go to New Zealand during two successive winters?

These pics tell you why.

Let it snow, let it blow...

We're snug n happy here...

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Auckland, June 2009

People asked me why I don't visit in December, when it is bright and sunny. The truth is, I wanted to see Vardaan, my new grandson asap. So as soon as colleges closed for examinations in April, I booked my ticket to NZ. I left Bangalore late in the night. The Volvo buses that ply from the city to the Devanhalli airport are convenient. There was a 3-hour stopover in Hong Kong. Not unexpectedly, the huge airport is predominantly Chinese. I spent a relaxed time strolling and browsing through the stores. I bought the book Soul Mountain by Gao Xingjian the only Chinese to win a Nobel prize for literature. Its like a travelogue of the Chinese countryside in the 60's, combined with long abstract passages which conjure strange mental images. After 8 weeks I'm still struggling through its difficult passages, hoping - eventually - to make it to the end.

After another long flight, the plane landed in Auckland. It was a bright morning with a light drizzle. With Vardaan in tow, Yasmin received me and drove us home to Albany. The entire journey from Bangalore to Auckland had lasted about 22 hours. Add to that another 7 hours for the time difference. It took me a couple of days to get over jetlag. When I arrived, Hari was away in Europe on a business trip. He came back 10 days later. Luckily some of his favourite Kaju Katli (an Indian sweet) still remained intact for him to enjoy.

The domestic routine revolves around Vardaan's 4-hourly cycle of eat-play-poop-sleep. His parents have trained him well: after his last feed around 8.30 pm he sleeps through the night. Vardaan is a gregarious baby. Everybody gets a smile and is permitted to hold and pet him.

The days fly. I'm already in my 3rd and last month of vacation. Its a cold sunday morning in Auckland. We're sipping hot tea and watching india play 20-20 in England. I miss my morning walks coz here it depends on the weather which gets windy & rainy - quite unpredictable. Yesterday we had been to Vardaan's weekly under-two swimming class - dunking the babies in the pool, singing rhymes, playing games & chasing floating toys. Its fun for parent and child while toddlers gets used to being in the water and automatically learn to flap their hands and feet. This evening we're invited to dinner by a young Indian couple friendly with Y-H . I'm included by default :) Last Saturday they kindly took me to mass before we joined their extended family for a delicious Malaysian dinner - a birthday celebration. Vardaan sat in the restaurant high chair for the first time and felt very gown up.

Food

The food in NZ deserves special mention. In addition to Kiwi cuisine, Auckland has a variety of Asian restaurants - Thai, Malaysian, Chinese, Japanese and Korean. Surprisingly, I haven't heard of a single Maori eatery. Friday night is for drinks and food at the pub. If there's a Rugby match on, its even better. Throughout the year the markets stock fresh fruit, vegetables and dairy products. The excellent cuts of NZ meat are, of course, famous. Spices and condiments from India and other Asian countries are readily available. With all its water bodies NZ has abundant seafood. In addition to the familiar ones, I've seen and tasted varieties of fish whose Indian equivalents I don't know. I discovered that the king fish is similar to our surmai. I made a Mangalorean coconut curry with it. When Yasmin made kababs, we had a nawabi feast. Another day Hari grilled salmon which we ate with mashed potatoes and a fresh salad.... yumm. You guessed it! I enjoy good food - both cooking and eating.

As I write this, Hari is off to the grocery store and Yasmin is preparing one of her favourite (Sanjeev Kapoor) chef's recipes. Vardaan is doing his commando crawl, inspecting everything on the ground level with special attention to miniscule specks of lint on the carpet. Our latest game is playing peek-a-boo round the kitchen counter. His upper front teeth have just come out to match the lower two which had appeared soon after my arrival in April. Now in his 10th month, he weighs about 11 kg and is tall for his age. As a doting grandmother I'm allowed to claim that he is intelligent, lovable, a fast learner and the best baby in Kiwiland :)

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The Holy Land

September 2008
A memorable whirlwind tour of Israel, Palestine & Egypt. A short stay in Lebanon too. Pleasant company, historic places, good tour arrangements. One of these days, I have promised myself to post some pictures with a commentary.

Rambling Rose

Here I go rambling on the first day of April ...

Today I feel philosophical. Is it because it is All Fools Day? Or because I woke up last night at 3 pm, with itchy mosquito bites and read Herodotus till my eyes ached. I like to think of him as the inspiration for  My Travel Page where I am blogging about my own rambles.

In one of his narratives, Herodotus (the most ancient Greek historian, born in 484 BC) writes about Solon the ancient Athenian statesman. Once, Solon snubbed King Croesus, the guy with enormous quantitites of gold in his treasuries, by telling him that his great wealth doesn't ensure his happiness. That made me feel better, because my financial balance sheet doesn't  look too good!

Three quotes for the Day

• It doesn't matter much how much you have; what really matters is how much you experience.
• One lives as long as one's memories are alive.
• A happy person is one who has enough health, wealth and family; and above all - whose life ends well.

 Let me ramble on... hoping that my life too ends well.

2009 Already!

I'm back again after another eventful 12 months!

 

In the year 2008:

• My mother passed away at 93.
• I have learnt to live alone in my apartment.
• My passport had visa stamps of New Zealand, Egypt and Jordan.
• I got a new grandson.
• I visited Bombay twice - October and December.
• Bittersweet memories; but life moves on.

I brought in the New Year 2009 in Chennai; then on to Pondicherry and Auroville, fulfilling a longstanding wish.

New Zealand, 2008

Apr-Jul 2008 : This was my first visit to New Zealand. It took nearly 24 hours, flying half way round the world, to reach  Auckland. It was worth it. I spent a most enjoyable time with Yasmin-n-Hari.

Click here New Zealand 2008

When you see the pictures, you will know for sure...